TOKYO - December 16, 2011 - JSR Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsunobu Koshiba) increased its manufacturing capacity of S-SBR (solution-polymerization styrene-butadiene rubber) at its Yokkaichi Plant by 25,000 tons/year to 60,000 tons/year. Expansion of the production line to increase manufacturing capacity was completed on December 16th, and the line will commence full-fledged production this month.

S-SBR is a highly functional synthetic rubber used mainly for tires and industrial products. Demand for fuel-efficient tires has surged due to the recent rise in concern for the environment around the world as well as changes in labeling regulations of tires in Japan and Europe. Most notably, JSR's S-SBR has excellent qualities for use in fuel-efficient tires and is highly rated both in Japan and abroad as a material for high performance fuel-efficient tires. The Yokkaichi Plant is currently producing S-SBR at full capacity and JSR will continue to meet expanding product demand with this increase of manufacturing capacity.

JSR possesses an S-SBR production base in Europe as well, holding a capacity rights agreement for of the manufacturing of 30,000 tons/year with Styron Europe GmbH. With the recent expansion, JSR’s global manufacturing capacity of S-SBR now totals 90,000 tons/year. In light of forecasts of a further increase in global demand for S-SBR for fuel-efficient tires, JSR is planning a new plant in Thailand (Initial Stage in 2013: 50,000 tons/year, Second Stage planned for 2015: increase of 50,000 for a total of 100,000 tons/year) as part of the global expansion of its S-SBR business.

New Plant for Solution Polymerization Styrene-Butadiene Rubber